Reporting again. This was my second range session and I want to feedback as to where I go from here. I shot 13 shots today and again all shots were within the 3 inch circle at 100 yards with different loads.

However, this is the rundown. 1st trip with 150gr. bullets (Speer Spitz) And 42gr. of IMR 3031, I had a 5 shot group of 1.56". -- Today (2nd trip) with 150gr. Speer Spitz and 42.5gr. of IMR 3031 (.5gr.more) My first shot, which was 1st of day from clean, cold, barrel hit dead center bullseye. Come out a 1.29" 3 shot group or opened to 2.1" 5 shot group.
I shot 150 Nosler BTips with IMR 3031 at the old 42.gr. and had a 1.4" 5 shot group. ( Sounds like my rifle likes 42 better than 42.5 so should I drop down and try 41.5 gr. of IMR 3031 with the 150 bullets for 3rd trip??? What ya think?
Ok I did not even try RL-15 because I was most dissatisfied with it on 1st trip @ 45gr. However, I did shoot the IMR 4064. 150 gr. Speer Spitz SP's with 43.5gr. of IMR 4064 yeilded a 2.8" group(3 shots), barely kept in the black circle. It was also the last group of the day and althought the barrel wasn't to hot to touch, it was definately warm and I noticed it throwing them and quit at 3 shots and called it a day. On trip 1, the 150's with IMR 4064 @ 45 gr. yeilded a 2.66" 5 shot group. So it would appear as if my rifle liked the 45gr. instead of the 43.5gr. But I noticed more recoil, so I assumed more pressure as compared with the best loads from IMR 3031. I am somewhat confused on this one. What would you do here? Maybe 4064 is more of a 165gr. bullet load. Don't know? Let me know how you would pursue from here. By the way, love this Ruger Rifle and sure am having fun!!! Thanks
Whitey

I don't have a .308, but for the things I do load, Hornady performs better than Speer. Most times, for me, the bullet makes a lot more difference than the powder, so that's where I'd go next.

Jaywalker

quote:

the bullet makes a lot more difference than the powder, so that's where I'd go next.

Total agreement here...try SGKs or interlocks or any other good hunting bullet.....

quote:

Originally posted by Bearbuck:
Reporting again. This was my second range session and I want to feedback as to where I go from here. I shot 13 shots today and again all shots were within the 3 inch circle at 100 yards with different loads.

However, this is the rundown. 1st trip with 150gr. bullets (Speer Spitz) And 42gr. of IMR 3031, I had a 5 shot group of 1.56". -- Today (2nd trip) with 150gr. Speer Spitz and 42.5gr. of IMR 3031 (.5gr.more) My first shot, which was 1st of day from clean, cold, barrel hit dead center bullseye. Come out a 1.29" 3 shot group or opened to 2.1" 5 shot group.
I shot 150 Nosler BTips with IMR 3031 at the old 42.gr. and had a 1.4" 5 shot group. ( Sounds like my rifle likes 42 better than 42.5 so should I drop down and try 41.5 gr. of IMR 3031 with the 150 bullets for 3rd trip??? What ya think?
Ok I did not even try RL-15 because I was most dissatisfied with it on 1st trip @ 45gr. However, I did shoot the IMR 4064. 150 gr. Speer Spitz SP's with 43.5gr. of IMR 4064 yeilded a 2.8" group(3 shots), barely kept in the black circle. It was also the last group of the day and althought the barrel wasn't to hot to touch, it was definately warm and I noticed it throwing them and quit at 3 shots and called it a day. On trip 1, the 150's with IMR 4064 @ 45 gr. yeilded a 2.66" 5 shot group. So it would appear as if my rifle liked the 45gr. instead of the 43.5gr. But I noticed more recoil, so I assumed more pressure as compared with the best loads from IMR 3031. I am somewhat confused on this one. What would you do here? Maybe 4064 is more of a 165gr. bullet load. Don't know? Let me know how you would pursue from here. By the way, love this Ruger Rifle and sure am having fun!!! Thanks
Whitey

Whitey, I would just shoot 3 shot groups, nothing is really gained by shooting 2 more shots, unless you're going to be shooting Pdogs or some other high rate of fire shooting.

Let your barrel cool a couple minutes between shots, those skinney barrels aren't conducive to accuracy in the first place, from my understanding, anyway. Heat them up and then you get larger groups.

I've used 4064 with 150NBTs in a Browning Stalker I used to have, 46grs. was the most accurate, 3/4" range, with CCI BR2 primers, Rem. brass. Used 47grs. 4064 with 150 Sierra SBTs in my Remington "Classic" stocked, and S/S barrel, accuracy was in the inch range, if I remember correctly, all were 3 shot groups. Of course now you know I use 45.5grs. RE15 with the 150SBTs, 9.5 primers, Rem brass, under an inch for the 2 groups my son and I have shot.

I'd agree with Jaywalker that bullet is the major accuracy factor, Of the powders you tried, none should give less than acceptable results, they're some of the top powders for the 308, the 308 is not a finicky when it comes to powder choice, bullet choice, thats another story.

So, here's what I'd do. Load up 3 150NBTS each with 45, 45.5, 46, 46.5 and 47grs. RE15, use a milder primer, Rem or CCI. Then buy some Hornady 150s, SSTs or just the plain Interlock, do the same thing. Always had good luck with Hornadys, as well as Nosler. If you can get ahold of some 150MatchKings, do the same with them, But load them up to 46grs. RE15, MAX.

Shoot them all sloooooowly, a nice clam day would help, and of course, smooth trigger control. BTW, did I mention I use Rem. brass?

If after doing these testings you can get but a 1.5" avg. grouping, so be it. Can't expect that much from a thin/short barreled rifle,(Though the Remington Model 7 sure shoots) 1.5MOA isn't that bad for a hunting rifle, translates to 4.5" at 300yds., give or take. Good Luck, Whitey. Jay

Try 165 Sierra HPBT Gamekings, 165 Nosler Partitions or 165 Nosler Ballistic Tips with 39.5 grain of IMR 3031 with CCI or Federal Primers. I have never seen a 308 rifle that did not shoot this load good. Bolt, semi, lever this load has shot good in all of them.

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
Try 165 Sierra HPBT Gamekings, 165 Nosler Partitions or 165 Nosler Ballistic Tips with 39.5 grain of IMR 3031 with CCI or Federal Primers. I have never seen a 308 rifle that did not shoot this load good. Bolt, semi, lever this load has shot good in all of them.

Yes, the 165s may work better in your rifle, Whitey. When I was shooting 165 Hornadys in my 308, it was a solid 1" rifle, or maybe a tiny it better with 50grs. of H380. used 2520 first off, but now the best powder for the 308 with 150-175 grain bullets is RE15, Varget may equal it, but since the military is using RE15 in their sniper round, I think thats a good reason to start with it.
Just wondering what primer you're using, Whitey? Jay

Jay,
I am using the Winchester LR primers. I had used CCI 200 for the past 5 years and started having erratic performance out of them and switched to Winchester Primers. Thanks
Whitey

quote:

Originally posted by Bearbuck:
Jay,
I am using the Winchester LR primers. I had used CCI 200 for the past 5 years and started having erratic performance out of them and switched to Winchester Primers. Thanks
Whitey

Whitey, Just got off the phone with Paul @Sierra, asking him some suggestions what you might do. He said alot of guys like the 210M
primer, but some guys get erratic results with them. He suggested trying the 9.5 Rem., told him thats what I use in my Remington, apparently he's had good luck with them in the 308Win.

When I told him you're using a Speer Bullet he kinda ho hum'd around, thinking that they are not the most accurate out there, I'd probably agree, though the Speers I used to shoot in a 22-250, Ruger btw, shot very well. He said the same thing I said, if all you can get is 1.5", you'll have to settle for it, unless you get a match grade barrel, which is not neccesary for deer hunting, IMHO.

Just might be that some rifles are only good for a certain amount of accuracy, my Remington will do only just under an inch with the bullets I've tried, hope to try some 168MKs and AMAXs next year, probably think they might shoot better than the 150SBTs. Not to start a "match bullets aren't for hunting" fight, but try some of the 150MK, 155MK, 155AMAXs and 168MK and AMAX, these bullets are almost guaranteed to shoot better than some of the other bullets we've mentioned. Maybe a longer bullet will shoot better in the Ruger. And still give you good performance on deer. Actually., the 165SST, for example, has more velocity at 300yds. than the 150SST, while the 150 starts out 120fps faster at the muzzle. Something to think about. Jay

Actually checked your rifle out at Gander today, Not a bad rifle, decent trigger, solid feeling. Didn't know it had a 22" barrel, thought it was 18.5'.

Jay,
Thanks for checking for me. Thanks also for the rifle compliment. I have been to the range 2 times. Im in the middle of loading for a 3rd trip. I have not shot any Sierra bullets. I have shot only the Speer 150 flatbase's. I did shoot 5 Nosler Bt's in a powder experimenting load. Other than that, thats the only bullets tried. I do have these in the 150's: Nosler BTips, Partitions, Winchester PP, Sierra Spitzer flatbase, and of course the Speers. Maybe by trying one of the others it will get tighter. I have not shot any 165gr. bullets, which my last 308 liked best. I have available only Hornady SPBT's Interlocks. This also may be what the Dr. ordered. I just have not experimented enough. However, with what I have shot, again, 15 shots from 3 different powders and charges all placed inside a 3 inch black circle at 100 yards without making any scope adjustments. They all hit the same area. I was impressed and if 1 1/2" is what I get, compared with that Weatherby headache I had, I will be satisfied. By the way in powders I have available: IMR 3031, IMR 4064, RL 15, I guess thats all 308 related and think thats enough. I have H-4350, H-4831sc, and RL 19. These I have used more for my 30-06. I am very well pleased with this Ruger M77 Mk II All Weather Stainless Steele 308win. more than I have been with any rifle in a very long time. I think its just going to take some steadfast committment to trial and error to find its sweetest spot. Also during the break in I noticed it was shooting good as it placed all factory Win PP 150gr. bullets in the 3 inch black target circle also. 10 shots. Fire one, clean one, etc. Then shot 3, clean, shoot 3, clean. etc. What do you think?? Thanks
Whitey

If you're asking what I think about the accuracy with the Winchester bullets, thats not too bad. Actually never did any break-in with any of my centerfire rifles, but it can't hurt. If I did any break-in, I'd probably start with 3 or 5 shots, clean until 20 shots are fired, and be done with it. That 708 of mine shoots so good with no kind of break-in to speak of, I'll probably never do it if I get another rifle. But like I said, can't hurt, either.

If you do try the 165s, try 42grs. RE15 and work up to 45.5grs., the max in my Alliant catalog for the 165 Sierra using WLR primer, if you got some Rem. 9.5 primers laying around, wouldn't hurt to try them, too. Just seems to me that with 308 class cases a less intence primer works well, WLR is a hotter primer, which may work better with a "Ball" powder. How are you seating these bullets, close to the lands, just so they fit in the Mag.? The 150 Sierras are probably .050"-.060" off the lands, and they still shoot good. Let us know how it goes. Just wondering, are you going to be using this rifle for opening week deer hunting? Thats this Saturday for us in Wis. Jay

I've got one 308/7.62. It's an AR10t, bull barrel, the whole nine yards. I've found IMR 40 64 seems to be the powder of choice with both the Sierra MatchKing 168 and 175 using Winchester LR primers, sorted and weighed Lake City cases.
A note on cases: All cases are sized, trimmed then weighed to within 2 grains of each other. The 'Brassman' has Federal once fired match cases at a good price these too need sizing and trimming.
I did find some 168 grain FMJBTs on Ebay at a reasonable price. These bullets seem to be nearly as accurate as the Sierra offerings.
My rifle does not like copper fouling at all. A comprehensive cleaning is required to keep the accuracy. This means Montana Extreme on a bore brush and JB bore cleaner every 20 to 50 shots during target practice. During load testing I'll clean in between 10 shot strings (two five shot strings on two targets), when the barrel cools down I'll resume testing.
Jim

I have not done any seating work at all. I simply have been seating them at 2.785" and leaving it at that. In fact, I have not even checked this rifle to see how far out I can seat the bullets. I have heard it for years but have always got good accuracy without it, but does it actually make that BIG of a difference???
I have hopes of using it for the opening week of deer season which opens here on Monday. However, with archery hunting and trying to get these loads right on top of your regular daily grind, Im having a hard time getting it together and can't pull myself away from the Bow to nail this load thing down. If weekend hits me and I have no pleasing results, I will probably sight in with the Factory Winchesters and go with them or Just use my '06 bolt.

Whitey, No, I don't feel that seating closer to the lands lets say will necessarily make a big difference. Sometimes you can't do that and still make it fit your mag, so seating them to fit your mag and a little less and be done with it, haven't had any problems doing it that way, getting very good to excellent accuracy with everything I've got. Jay